Paying final respects on Friday to Joyce

Ralph Mellon

A funeral service for former Levenmouth councillor Joyce Smith is to be held at 3.00 p.m. this Friday at Kirkcaldy Crematorium.

The former representative for Methil and Methilhill, who was a councillor for a quarter of a century, died on June 25 at the age of 77.

There will be a collection for animal charities and, afterwards, there will be a buffet at Methilhill Bowling Club

Former Provost of Fife – and a colleague of Joyce’s on the old Fife Regional Council education committee – Tom Dair is due to give a eulogy, while proceedings are being led by Methilhill minister the Rev Elisabeth Cranfield.

There will be a collection for animal charities and, afterwards, there will be a buffet at Methilhill Bowling Club.

Tributes continued last week for Joyce, who was first elected in 1982 and remained a councillor for 25 years before stepping back from public life eight years ago.

Friends remembered her as someone who lived by her principles and believed absolutely in the personal touch with those for whom she worked – residents in her communities, children and staff in education, patients and front-line staff in health.

Ex-Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “Joyce made a massive contribution to public life in Fife, not just as a local councillor but as a champion of education for all Fife’s children. She was a committed trade unionist and a fearless campaigner for social justice. She put the needs of her constituents first and was most notably outspoken throughout all her life when it came to standing up for the NHS.”